It was a tackle that showed Manly had turned up pumped and passionate.

Tupou soon recovered to score the Roosters’ first try.

Who needs Israel Folau with this youngster on the end of the Roosters’ backline?

This kid, 195cm and 100kg, is a sensational player.

Just like last week’s semi-final, he leapt high in the air, towering over David Williams, grabbed the football and then touched down in the one motion.

The defence was just as awesome in the second-half. A Steve Matai tackle smashed Aidan Guerra in the ribs and shook both the stadium - and the ball - loose.

Sadly, the refereeing was no improvement on what we’ve seen all season.

Manly, trailing 8-6, had a chance for one last first-half challenge in the 39th minute.

Jamie Lyon drilled the ball towards touch and it clearly came off a Roosters’ boot on its way over the sideline.

It should have been a Manly feed with a couple of tackles before the siren.

Inexplicably they gave the Roosters the feed.

A minor error, maybe, but potentially a costly one.

There were a number of other first-half mistakes.

Mitchell Pearce clearly knocked on in the third minute.

Everyone but Ben Cummins and Shayne Hayne saw it.

Less than 10 minutes later Kieran Foran was ruled to have lost control in the play-the-ball.

Replays showed Pearce had interfered.

And then there was the Jared Waerea-Hargreaves headbutt they missed.

At least they got the penalty try call right.

Lyon would have scored for sure if Mitchell Aubusson had not taken him from behind as they chased down a Cherry-Evans kick.

But in the end it didn’t matter.

The Roosters have been the best team all year and deserved victory.

And Sonny Bill confirmed what we already knew - that he’s an out and out champion.

***

Friend in need earns ultimate redemption

THE look etched across Jake Friend’s face was one of misery and desperation.

We’re sitting in a restaurant in his hometown of Noosa, five days before Christmas, 2009.

The Roosters had just shredded the 19-year-old’s contract, leaving him unemployed with a shocking rap sheet that included high-range drink-driving, charges of assault and abusing police.

You’d back his career to be over.

As the entrée arrives he starts telling his story.

“I have no excuses for anything that’s happened,” he said. “I’m the only one responsible for the position I’m in.

“Please don’t turn this into another ‘I’m sorry’ story. Of course I regret my actions and I’m really sorry for what I’ve done to the Roosters, my family and friends. But I see the next part of my life as an opportunity to become a better person rather than worry about the past.

“I can’t change anything that’s happened.”

Four years later and the change is simply remarkable.

Via a six-month stint washing dishes at a Surry Hills sandwich shop, Friend returned to the Roosters and on to the game’s biggest stage Sunday night.

He was outstanding in the second half to help inspire the Roosters’ fightback.

No one deserved the premiership ring more than Friend.

The look etched across his face at full-time was so different to Noosa.

One of the great rugby league comebacks had been completed.

***

THE BUZZ FIVE

1. Australia’s Test selectors got the Clive Churchill Medal wrong. When a team wins a grand final by eight, surely the man-of-the-match can’t go to a player in a losing side. The Roosters had any number of players worthy of the award including five-eighth James Maloney, hooker Jake Friend or Sonny Bill Williams for his second-half attack.
Surely Friend will be chosen on the World Cup tour as back-up to Cameron Smith.

2. Who needs Israel Folau in rugby league when we’ve already got Daniel Tupou on the Roosters left wing.
He again showed remarkable skill to score his team’s opening try, leaping AFL style, way above David Williams, to grab the ball and touch down. This youngster is getting better and better and will become an absolute superstar of the game.

3. The penalty try to Jamie Lyon was one of the few decisions the referees got right. There was absolutely no doubt Jamie Lyon was going to score before Mitchell Aubusson tackled him from behind. It was one of those decisions that could have shattered the Roosters at such a crucial moment of the grand final. Every player showed great composure to get on with the job of winning the game.

4. Kiwi Test centre Steve Matai took home one award - best tackle of the night for his magnificent hit on Aidan Guerra in the second-half, which shook the ball loose. Still, the defence from both sides was nothing like the semi-final from three weeks ago when only four points were scored in 80 minutes. On Sunday night the two teams scored 44 points.

5. Goal-kicking will always make a difference in finals football. James Maloney banged over five from five, a couple of them difficult shots. He has been a fantastic buy for the Roosters.

***

HIGHLIGHT

THE mighty Sharks winning Sunday’s NSW Cup. A massive night at the King Wan.

LOWLIGHT

NO ONE can find the key to the trophy cabinet. Went missing in ‘79, moments after the Amco Cup was placed inside.

***

WITH reserve grade making a comeback next year, the NRL should move Holden Cup to Wednesday nights with a double-header televised live on Fox Sports, just like college football in the US Venues such as Leichhardt Oval, Belmore Sports ground, Redfern Oval and Penrith Stadium and would be perfect to host the games.

***

CHRIS Warren, the son of broadcasting legend Ray Warren,

***

GREAT to see Dave Smith out there mixing with the punters. The NRL CEO spent an hour mingling with fans and enjoying a beer in the concourse area during Holden Cup.

***

SALLY Ms

3. David Williams - the Wolfman produced a couple of howlers in defence that cost the Sea Eagles two tries.

Have Your Say

Buzz, us Manly fans are outraged. Our team was dudded. JWH shouldve been marched for a headbutt; that pass was a metre forward; Pearce knocked-on… the list is endless. But we all know the faceless men of the NRL always favour the Roosters and they hate Manly.
Make no mistake - Tooves is also overcome with rage, and will be giving the officials and NRL an almighty spray about this conspiracy in the post-match commitments. I hope Dean Ritchie was there to get the story. We need an inquiry into this scandal, Buzz.

Settle, settle. Do you really think that was a head-butt? It was more a head-shove. No damage done. I do agree that there were a number of questionable decisions and they all went against Manly.

Phil RothfieldMon 07 Oct 13 (07:11am)

As a Bunnies fan, I am wired to detest the Roosters and Manly. But WOW, what a great game of Rugby League. Both teams should be proud, and there is no doubt they were the top sides in the NRL.
I thought the refs did OK though Buzz, just a couple of errors which I think we have to accept is part of the game.

I thought the refs were dreadful. Sadly, the best ref, Chicken Legs Cecchin, was part of the seven-tackle stuff-up and we didn’t see him again during the finals.The guy who refereed NSW Cup was better than the NRL refs.

Phil RothfieldMon 07 Oct 13 (07:13am)

Buzz
Congrats to the Sharks on the event of their epic victory and congrats to the DT for out SBWing Fairfax though the content of your article is indisputable. I guess one more thing League has in it’s favor (apart from being a much more interesting and entertaining game) is that in Union, SBW is good or very good but not even close to the force he is in League.

Great wing by the Sharks - sadly I couldn’t celebrate as I had to go straight to work.

Phil RothfieldMon 07 Oct 13 (07:48am)

Some of the most disgusting refereeing in a grand final ever. As a Manly fan I was disgusted and unlikely to continue to follow this corrupt/incompetent game any longer. Several neutrals I spoke to said the same thing so it wasn’t just me.

First of all roosters deserved to be premiers with the calls going against manly surely the video ref can tip the on field refs if they make a mistake the knock on,strip, touch by jennings all could have been reversed by video ref ,also video ref needs to be able to rule on forward passes

Phil RothfieldMon 07 Oct 13 (07:43am)

I thought he was about a 7 out of 10. Cherry Evans was the best half-back on the field.

Phil RothfieldMon 07 Oct 13 (07:43am)

Great game by the players but I think you underestimate the refs, it’s dreadful yes, but you could add pathetic,incompetent & serious. like, really , there dose need to be an investigation!! Is it really that bad that people now except it (thunder of syd).. C’mon 2 refs, 2 linesmen that seem 2 fall asleep and video refs who are incompetent (wasn’t Ashley Kline part of the 7 tackle ? Was he a video ref? 2 many crucial mistakes at crucial times.... It cost the Eagles the COMP.. Is that not serious enough??????

I can understand your anger but the best side all year won the footy game. Something has to be done about refereeing before the start of the 2014 season. Mr Hayne should be retire hurt.

Phil RothfieldMon 07 Oct 13 (07:47am)

Hi Buzz,
Thanks for another great season of coverage of the footy..I admire the fact that you are one of the few (maybe the only) journalists who blog with the fans throughout the season and never shy away from their tough questions. Enjoy the off season because before we know it it’ll be on again.
Just one word about the Roosters, who I have never liked,they thoroughly deserved their premiership victory. They were clearly the best team this year and proved it when it counted in the finals. Being a Doggie fan it’s a shame they couldn’t do the same in 2012, but I’m sure they’ll comeback bigger and stronger in 2014 with the Barba issues behind em.
Once again thanks Buzz for your great coverage..as always it’s been a great ride!

I don’t always agree with you but got to appreciate a man willing to put his opinions out there. I know you get a lot of hate but monday mornings would not be the same without your blog. Bring on 2014!

Thank-you mate. Much appreciate it. About 150 days until we start all over again. Plus we’ve got the World Cup.

Phil RothfieldMon 07 Oct 13 (07:56am)

Can you remind us how you thought Manly would go at the start of the year or are you too embarrassed. You didnt notice they have champion halves? I know they lost, but it was alot better than you predicted.

The choice of man of the match was ridiculous. Maloney deserved it in front of DCE. So did Jennings who was dangerous all night and scored a great try. SBW won the match in the second half. Even Mini was excellent. These selectors dont know what they are doing.

And what about Jake Friend. And do you something else --- they had to vote 10 minutes before full-time.

Phil RothfieldMon 07 Oct 13 (07:59am)

The argument against a penalty try was that Jamie Lyon clearly overruns the ball when he is pulled down and is unlikely to score. The argument for is he is in front when tackled without the ball. I could live with the decision though i could have lived with it at penalty only.

Phil RothfieldMon 07 Oct 13 (08:00am)

I dont know why the referee’s are copping a hard time. Whenever there is a match and the 50-50 decisions go against Manly, the referee’s have done their job. Where can i send these champions a thank you card?

Hi Phil, The video ref has been ruling on the did he or did he not play at the ball all year and tipping the ref, i’m not sure what A Kline was looking at with the Jennings one and as for the forward pass by Maloney to Mini the same Linesman and one of the Refs were the ones in middle last week when SBW passed that howler and got rewarded with the Grand Final.

Loved your joke, “ Jake Friend to be selected as back up hooker to cameron Smith”. funny stuff! How about Maloney and Pearce to replace Cronk and Thurston or an unknown centre from Holden Cup to replace Inglis? ha ha ha. Seriously, Robbie Farah is the no. 2 hooker by a country mile.

Farah will be chosen but in my opinion, Friend is the form hooker in the game.

Phil RothfieldMon 07 Oct 13 (08:24am)

Please, someone, explain how DCE got Man of the Match. Maloney 3 try assists and 5 goals from 5 attempts? Go figure? As for the forward pass… Manly should have tied up SBW and stopped him passing the ball.

Phil RothfieldMon 07 Oct 13 (08:32am)

Phil you are the biggest dribbler in the Australian press, how can the highlight of grand final day being those pathetic sharks winning a sub standard competition, not really sure how you have a job writing in a major newspaper

Phil RothfieldMon 07 Oct 13 (01:07pm)

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